Boardwalk's concrete cracks raise fears of falls

THE PROBLEM: Along Ocean Front Walk, one's gaze naturally gravitates toward the Pacific, but in a few spots anyone on wheels needs to cast a glance downward.

Roger Stebleton, a longtime resident of South Mission Beach, said his wife, Pat, got her bicycle tire caught in a rut on the concrete boardwalk a few weeks ago and nearly toppled over. That got him noticing how rough the pavement is alongside Belmont Park, broken up between the transition from concrete to asphalt, and in some other spots farther south.

Stebleton said he thinks people on bikes, scooters and skateboards all face hazards from the condition of the pavement. He mentioned his concerns to a crew performing repairs on the sea wall, but wasn't sure which city office to go to to press the matter further.

STATUS: Maintenance of Ocean Front Walk falls under the jurisdiction of the city's General Services Department. Just Fix It asked the Street Division on Friday whether the walkway is scheduled for work, and we'll pass along its response after it has had time to look into it.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Hasan Yousef, deputy director of the Street Division, who can be reached at (619) 527-7500 or
hyousef@sandiego.gov
.

UPDATE: Just Fix It checked back last week on the progress of the city's battle with gophers at Ocean Beach's Robb Field, chronicled here July 13 and Sept. 13. Dozens of gopher holes were creating tripping hazards on a grassy expanse used for soccer and other sports, but the rodents were holding up pretty well under a variety of increasingly aggressive extermination efforts.

Clay Bingham, a deputy director of community parks, said that the situation has gotten better since summer but that “we need to do more.” The idea of a concussion method to knock out the critters was rejected, but a meeting has been scheduled for later this week to explore the next step.

NEED A PROBLEM SOLVED: Is there a problem that government hasn't taken care of despite your complaints? Whether it's a clogged storm drain or broken park equipment anywhere in San Diego County, Just Fix It might be able to help.